Work chuck



P 1950 T. ZIMMERMAN 2,521,275

WORK cnucx Filed Jan. 17, 1945 2 sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. IN THOMASZIMMERMAN N ATTOR N EYS Sept. 5, 1950 T. ZIMMERMAN 2,521,275

WORK caucx Filed Jan. 17, 1945 2 SheetsSheet 2 z ak IN V EN TOR.

THOMAS ZIMMERMAN ATTORNEYS .plates to the annular member. member 6 isjournaled on the uprights by means Patented Sept. 5, 1950 2,521,275 WORKCHUCK Thomas Zimmerman, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.,

assignor to Kelsey-Hayes Wheel Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation ofDelaware Application January 17, 1945, Serial No. 573,211

' 9 Claims. (01. 279-111) The invention relates to work chucks andrefers more particularly to chucks for holding tubular work.

The invention has for one object to provide an improved chuck which isconstructed to ho-ld tubular work accurately in position and in accuratecylindrical condition.

The invention hasfor another object to provide a chuck Comprising twounits which are yieldably supported with respect to each other, one unitbeing engageable with the work to center the same and the other unitbeing engageable with the work to longitudinally position the same.

The invention has for a further object to provide a chuck having a unitformed of diaphragms which are spaced from each other and also havingmeans between the diaphragms for flexing the same.

These and other objects of the invention reside in the novel features ofconstruction and combinations and arrangements of parts as more fullyhereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a work chuck embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of Figure 1.

The work chuck embodying the invention may be used to hold tubular workof various cross sections while various types of operations are beingperformed on the work. More particularly, the work chuck is designed tohold cylindrical work, such as a cylinder sleeve, a bushing, or abearing, while the internal surface of the cylindrical work is beingoperated upon. Specifically, the cylindrical work is a relativelythin-walled cylinder sleeve provided at one end with an external annularflange.

. The work chuck, as illustrated, comprises the base I, the uprights 2on the base, the carrier 3 located between and mounted on the uprights,and the clamping units 4 and 5 on the carrier.

The unit 4 externally engages the sleeve to accurately center the sameand the unit 5 engages the opp0site sides of the annular flange of thesleeve to longitudinally position the sleeve.

The carrier 3 comprises the annularmember 6 and the annular plates 1 and8 secured to opposite ends of the annular member and extending radiallyinwardly therefrom. Suitable means, such as the bolts 9 and I0, securethe annular The annular 2 of the gudgeo-ns II which are fixedly securedto the annular member 6 by suitable means, such as the bolts I2. Thecarrier also comprises the coil springs [3 which extend between theannular plate I and the clamping unit 4 and yieldably support the latteron the former. 14 are bolts extending through the annular plate 1 andencircled V by the coil springs and threaded into the clamping unit 4for limiting the movement of the clamping unit away from the annularplate. The carrier may be swung relative to the uprights through anangle of degrees and may be locked in either position by means of theplunger 15 which extends through one of the uprights and into one of theholes I6 formed in the annular member 6.

The unit 4 comprises the annular member [1, the diaphragms [8 on theannular member, the annular series of clamping jaws [9 on thediaphragms, and actuating means between the diaphragms for flexing thesame to move the jaws. The diaphragm's is are spaced longitudinally ofthe annular member I? and comprise the resilient disc portions 20 whichextend generally radially inwardly from the annular member and theaxially extending arm portions 2| which extend away from each other andhave secured thereto the jaws 19 which face generally radially inwardly.The disc portions 20 are secured to the annular member by means of theannular members 22 and 23 which are secured to the annular member [5 bysuitable means, such as the bolts 24. The lower annular member 22 isthreadedly engaged by the bolts [4.

The means for flexing the diaphragms 18 to move the jaws l9 generallyradially outwardly to released position comprises the aligned externallythreaded actuating members 25 which have rounded ends engaging the discportions 20 of the diaphragms at their radially inner ends. Theactuating members are held from rotation relative to the diaphragms bythe annular closure member 26 extending between the diaphragms at theirradially inner ends and the key 21 between the closure member; and theactuating members and extending into the diaphragms. 28 are internallythreaded members threadedly engaging the actuating members 25 andformedwith the rack teeth 29 which are opposed to each other.

,These rack teeth are engageable by the teeth of the revoluble pinion 30which is journaled in the base of the U-shaped annular member 3!.

The member 3| is formed of two L-shaped rings fixedly secured togetherby the bolts 32 extending within the axially aligned flanges 33 of therings which form the base. The member is 10- grooves 42 formed in theannular plate 8.

3 cated between the diaphragms and its base lies against the annularmember I1. The radial flanges 34 of the L-shaped rings encircle thethreaded portions of the internally threaded members 28 and also overliethe portions of the internally threaded members 28 having the rack teethto thereby guide the internally threaded members, both radially andaxially. 35 is an annular spacer between the internally threaded membersradially inwardly of the pinion 30.

36 is a wrench insertable through an opening in the annular member 6into a suitable. polygonal socket in the pinion 30 to revolve thelatter.

The construction is such that by revolving the pinion 30 in the properdirection the internally threaded members 28 will be rotated in oppositedirections to move the externally threaded actuating members 25 axiallyof the cylinder sleeve and away from each other to thereby flex the discportions 20 of the diaphragms and move the clamping jaws I9- on thediaphragms generally radially outwardly to released position. On theother hand, by turning the pinion 30 in the opposite direction thediaphragms will be released and their arms and the jaws will be free tomove generally radially inwardly under the inherent resiliency in thedisc portions of the diaphragms. The jaws exert a predetermined pressureon the cyiinder sleeve suflicient to firmly grip and hold the sleevefrom rotation while its internal surface is being operated upon.Furthermore, the jaws exert the same pressure on the sleeve which issufficient to overcomethe resistance offered by the relatively thin wallof the sleeve to thereby compel the sleeve to be truly cylindrical.

The clamping unit is mounted on the annular plate 8 and comprises thediametrically opposite pairs of jaws 31 and the cooperatingdiametrically opposite jaw members 38. The jaws 31 are equally spacedfrom each other and are mounted on the extensions 39 of the annularplate 8, the arms 2! being cut away to receive the extensions-39 andjaws 31 which, it will be noted, clear the external surface of thecylinder sleeve. The jaws 31 are, however, formed. with rabbets toreceive the external annular flange 'of the sleeve which has one sidewall resting on the jaws 31-. The jaw members 38 are bifurcated and haveat the ends of their furcations the jaws N which are located axiallyopposite the jaws. 31 and engage the side of the external annular flangeof the sleeve-opposite the side engaged by the jaws 31. As a result, thejaws 31 and 40 cooperate to effectively longitudinally position thesleeve. It will also be noted that the jaws 31 are positioned so thattheir rabbets are engageable with the external surface of the annularflange of the sleeve to approximately center the same. The jaw members38 are provided at the ends remote from the furcations with thetransverse projections 41 which are adapted to fulcrum upon the bottomsof the 43 is a screw threaded. into the annular plate 8 and having ahead M abutting a. jaw member 38 intermediate its ends for moving thesame to clamping position. 45 is a coil spring encircling each of thescrews. 43 and located ina recess in the annular plate 8 and abuttingthe side of the adjacent jaw member 38 to resiliently move the same toreleased position when the associated screw is rotated to releasedposition.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a simpleconstruction of work 4 chuck having spaced diaphragms with clamping jawsthereon and provided with means between the diaphragms for moving thesame to released position. It will also be seen that I have provided asimple construction of work chuck having two clamping units, one ofwhich is adapted to center the work and the other of which is adapted tolongitudinally position the work. Further, that the clamping units aremounted on a carrier so that one unit is yieldably mounted with respectto the other.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A work chuck comprising an annular member, flexible diaphragms 0n andspaced longitudinally of said annular member, an annular series ofclamping jaws on each of said diaphragms, and means between saiddiaphragms for flexing the same to move said jaws.

2. A work chuck comprising an annular member, diaphragms spacedlongitudinally of and extending generally radially inwardly from saidannular member, an annular series of generally radially inwardly facingclamping jaws on each 'of said diaphragms, actuating members between andengageable with the radially inner end portions' of said diaphrag-ms,and means for simultaneously moving said actuating members to flex saiddiaphragms to thereby move said jaws.

3. A work chuck comprising an annular mem- 'ber, diaphragms spacedlongitudinally of and extending generall radially inwardly from saidannular member, an annular series of generally radially inwardly facingclamping jaws on each of said diaphragms, threaded actuating membersbetween and engageable with the radially inner end portions of saiddiaphragms', rotatable members having threaded engagement with saidactuating members, and means for rotating said rotatable members.

i. A work chuck comprising anannular-member, diaphragms on said annularmember, an annular series of clamping jaw-s on each of said diaphragms,and means between said diaphragms for flexing the same to move saidjaws, said means comprising threaded actuating members between andengageable with said d-iaphragms, rotatable members having threadedengagement with said actuating members, and a revoluble memberengageable with said rotatable members for rotating the same in oppositedirections.

5. A work chuck comprising an annular member, diaphragms spacedlongitudinally of and extending generally radially inwardly from saidannular member, an annular series of generaliy radially inwardly facingclamping jaws on each of said diaphragms, externally threaded actuatingmembers between and engageable with the diaphragms for flexing the sameto move said jaws.

7. A work chuck comprising an annular meniber, flexible diaphragms onand spaced longitudinally of said annular member and extendingtransversely of the axis thereof, generally axially extending andgenerally radially facing jaws on said diaphragms and means acting onsaid diaphragms for flexing the same to move said jaws. 8. A Work chuckcomprising an annular mem: ber, flexible diaphragms secured to oppositeends of said annular member and extending transversely of the axisthereof, jaws on said diaphragms extending generally axially and awayfrom each other and facing generally radially, and means between saiddiaphragms and acting thereon to flex the same to move said jaws.

9. A work chuck comprising an annular member, diaphragms spacedlongitudinally of and extending generally radially of said annular mem-REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,681,070 Uschmann Aug. 14, 19281,938,356 Searles Dec. 5, 1933 1,956,318 Draper Apr. 24, 1934

